Kitchen Garden Forum

Hi, I am thinking of replacing my old parrafin heater with a propane gas jobby. Has anyone any thoughts on this? The cheapest suppliers appear to be a firm called keengardener.co.uk anybody had any dealings with this firm?
Thanks.

Hi Strawberry Tart
I had thought of doing this but was put of by the initial cost of a cylinder and the cost of a regulator valve before you even pay out for the heater itself. In the long term though I suppose that these heaters are a much better proposition than paraffin especially if the heater has a thermostat.
Would be interested to hear from someone who has one of these propane heaters.

John

Evening Strawberry Tart and John, i have used a propane heater for many years now. I have gone over to a electric heater now for the main heating, but i still leave the propane heater on tick over in the winter, just incase we have one of the many power-cuts we seem to get round here. I have 2no 47kg bottles, these cost just under £100 to have them changed a few weeks ago.

John's quite right with the initial outlay being quite expensive, regulator, bottle or bottles and then refills.

I was wondering if it might be worth a trip to your tidy tip, they might have cylinders there they don't want, but you would have to get the same ones as you are going to get refilled.

As for the heater itself, i think i would google them and compare prices.

Thankyou John & O.H.
I'm almost sure its the way to go,parrafin prices went through the roof half way through last winter,its messy and dirty,Ive had a couple of bad soot events (through not keeping the wick trimmed i think?).Apparently propane is a third cheaper and is thermostatically controlled.The one I'm looking at is 1.5 kwatt and £109.99 (I have a bottle already).
I'm just wary of buying on the tinternet so if any one has had any dealings with the firm Keengardening I would be grateful. Thanks.

I'm starting to think about a possible Christmas present: a gas heater for the polytunnel.
I've noticed at 2kw heat (with pipe work and connectors) for £80 and I am tempted. It's call a 'lifestyle Eden'.
The main think that I'm not sure of is how much gas I'm going to use. Anyone got any advice on this? I realize it depends on how cold it gets, and what temperature I set it to....

I found both paraffin and gas produced too much condensation. Now use electric.

You don't state what size area you wish to try and maintain a temperature in so it is a little difficult to envisage what it might cost in gas usage.

If you go the gas route don't forget the Carbon Dioxide (or maybe I mean Monoxide) alarm

The polytunnel is 14 ft x 25, but I was thinking of making a heated area near the front door (separated off with bubble wrap) that is perhaps 14 ft x 6 ft.
I don't like the idea of paraffin due to the condensation and possibility of blackening the sheet. Electric is not available.
Thanks

Hi Mr Cecil,
My tunnels were heated by hot box oil heaters with a series of fans circulating the heat to get as even distribution as possible.
This of course was a comercial set-up now long time ceased but I now have a heated bench with warming cables and with the use of polythene I have a poly tunnel within a poly tunnel not strictly for the growing of vegetables but for shrub cutting but the warming cabbles are thermostatically controlled but by enclosing in polythene you have an entirely different eco system to the tunnel itself.
Now I appreciate that you have no chance of electricity but think the same effect could be created with gas heating with a couple of small low powered fans.
JB.

Interesting. I do have a car battery in the tunnel which I do use for various things. Powering a fan might be an option. I guess it does not have to be anything special, just something to encourage the air to move around.

Hi Mr Cecil,
I came up a bit short on my answer to you but what I was trying to convey was that distribution of heat is quite important.
If you do not get ventilation and distribution of heat balanced the results can be disasterous.
I do not use propagatore for vegetable normally but Tomatoes, Peppers and Aubergines do need heat and that heat should never fall below 10C.
Super idea with the batteries.
JB.